NBA Live 16

NBA Live 16 (stylised as NBA LIVE 16) is an NBA basketball simulation video game by EA Sports. It was released on September 29th 2015, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is the twenty-first game in the NBA Live series (the nineteenth to actually be released), and the fourth game in the series to be developed by EA Tiburon. It is the direct sequel to NBA Live 15 and will be followed by NBA Live 18.

Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder was announced as the cover player for NBA Live 16 on June 9th, 2015. The accompanying cover announce trailer also provided the first glimpse of the game in action.

The game introduces revamped shooting mechanics, which are no longer tied to jumpshot animations. Shot feedback was also expanded with a new shot meter, indicating the optimal release point and the odds of making a shot. Additional feedback on the nature of the shot is also given, such as the player having low ratings, being well-guarded, or shooting off the dribble. One-to-one dribbling controls were also enhanced, for more responsiveness when making moves with the right stick.

Although there are no major additions to Dynasty Mode or Rising Star in NBA Live 16, a couple of new features were added to Ultimate Team in the form of GM Lists and short term player cards. NBA Live 16 instead introduced a new mode in the form of LIVE Pro-Am, in which gamers take their Rising Star player and compete against NBA players and special "boss" characters in real world venues, such as Terminal 23 and the Hoop Dome. LIVE Pro-Am offers both online multiplayer and single play, with different objectives to complete at each venue. NBA Live 16 also brings back LIVE Run, allowing up to ten gamers to play online pickup games with their Rising Star players.

For the first time in the NBA Live series, gamers are able to scan their face into NBA Live 16 for use with their Rising Star player, using a companion app that is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Introducing LIVE Pro-Am. It’s a fast-paced way to Rise Together with your friends. Pro-Am features LIVE Run and Summer Circuit, two innovative online multiplayer modes that let you compete on iconic indoor and outdoor courts across North America. Play five-on-five street ball in LIVE Run. Meet NBA greats on the courts that made them famous in Summer Circuit.

LIVE MOTION

Create moves straight from courtside with LIVE Motion, the all-new physics-based player movement system. LIVE Motion puts you in control of movement so you’ll never feel stuck in a scripted animation. With completely rebuilt passing and catching systems, you can distribute the ball exactly when and where you want using touch passing and dribble hand-offs. A brand-new shot system and unprecedented control in pick and roll situations give you extra opportunities for self-expression on court.

LIVE SPOT

Visit the LIVE Spot to hook your player up with the freshest gear. Sort hundreds of sneaker options using filters such as brand, price, color and availability. Just like we scan faces, we scan laces, so all the kicks will look just as good in game as they do in your closet. Customize your player from head to toe with the latest kicks and gear from leading apparel brands including Jordan. You can also select from hundreds of exclusive tattoo designs provided by world-renowned artist Randy Harris, who’s tatted some of the biggest names in the game.

LIVE IS ALL ABOUT YOU

For the first time, you can use the next evolution of EA SPORTS technology to really get yourself into the game. The NBA LIVE Companion app features our exclusive GameFaceHD feature that takes personalization to a whole new level. This easy-to-use, mobile face scan allows you to look just as great as the NBA stars in-game.

LIVE CONNECTED

These are the freshest ways to play ball. Dynasty, Rising Star, BIG Moments, and more are back and better than ever. Build the perfect dream squad in LIVE Ultimate Team from current superstars and legends from the past. Frequent content updates provide fresh challenges based on real-world NBA events – keeping it LIVE all season.

Although considered an improvement over NBA Live 15 in several aspects, NBA Live 16 garnered similar overall responses from reviewers, with Metacritic scores of 59 for the PlayStation 4 version, and 60 for the Xbox One version. Further improvements to some of the visual elements, the new shooting mechanics, and LIVE Pro-Am were generally singled out for praise, while common criticisms included the continued lack of improvement to game modes and animations. As with its immediate predecessors, NBA Live 16 received mixed and polarising reactions from basketball gamers, although it does have a dedicated following. NBA Live 16 has received a handful of title updates which have generally been positively received, improving certain elements and fixing some nagging issues.

The content updates for NBA Live 16 have been criticised for lacking in detail and frequency, with several players using generic faces long after the game's release. Up until the release of patch 1.06 on February 11th 2016, there were no updates to NBA Rewind since November, nor any updates to BIG Moments since December. Several players have also been absent from the rosters through the season, a point of contention as the game does not include any roster customisation functionality.